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Pandemic spotlights the vital role of military lab workers
May 3, 2022 — Clinical labs across the Military Health System -- and the staff who operate them -- play a vital role in early detection of illnesses, diagnosis and treatment of diseases like cancer, diabetes or heart disease... MORE

Image of an Airman working in a laboratory.

Top military health leaders discuss future readiness
March 9, 2022 — Top military health leaders recently highlighted the importance of preparing for the future to ensure both a medically ready force and a ready medical force... MORE

Why today’s ‘Gen Z’ is at risk for boot camp injuries
February 10, 2022 — For today's generation of 18-to-25-year-olds, making it through recruit training and successfully transitioning from civilian life into the military is not easy. Today's recruits are coming from a far more sedentary lifestyle compared to previous generations, making their skeletons more prone to injuries because they're not used to the kind of intense activity they will face at basic training... MORE

While the United States military remains “the best in the world,” Department of the Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Jan. 19 that the Air and Space Forces must move quickly to adapt and modernize to offset actions by China and others that have dented the “presumption of superiority” held by the U.S.

Defense Health Agency director visits BAMC
February 7, 2022 — Lt. Gen. Ronald J. Place, Defense Health Agency Director, visited Brooke Army Medical Center Feb. 3 to meet with staff, discuss MHS GENESIS implementation, and to thank team members for their role in the implementation... MORE

San Antonio Market to standardize, optimize local healthcare
July 16, 2021 — After years of collaboration, San Antonio’s military treatment facilities officially unified as a market with the Defense Health Agency during a ceremony at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston July 16... MORE

Army Lt. Gen. Ronald J. Place, director of the Defense Health Agency, unfurls the DHA flag

Reducing the stigma, encouraging mental health care in the military
May 19, 2021 — In the military, the stigma of mental health is grounded in the cultural misperception that a service member must have "zero defects" to be mission-ready. While the Department of Defense strives to identify and eliminate barriers to care that service members face regarding mental health treatment, stigma remains a significant issue within the military... MORE

MHS GENESIS Patient Portal expands new features
April 9, 2021 — MHS GENESIS' patient portal is rapidly increasing in size, capability and usability... MORE

DOD experts explain science behind COVID-19 vaccines
February 2, 2021 — Almost six weeks after the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for the first two COVID-19 vaccines, many questions have arisen concerning their efficacy in attacking the SARS-CoV-2 virus and deadly COVID-19 disease. To better understand how COVID-19 vaccines work, MHS Communications spoke to two medical experts who have been intimately involved in the Department of Defense’s effort to develop and roll out vaccines for Americans... MORE

DHA launches new 59th MDW/Wilford Hall website
September 3, 2020 — The Defense Health Agency launched 74 new military hospital and clinic Air Force websites Sept. 1, including one for the 59th Medical Wing/Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center. Each website transitioned to the TRICARE domain to provide a standardized patient experience across the Military Health System... MORE

The transition to the TRICARE.mil domain incorporates new layouts and adds helpful features to enhance the user experience and provide easier access to information about the local military hospital or clinic and the TRICARE benefit in one place.

JBSA continues HPCON CHARLIE protective measures
August 20, 2020 — As Joint Base San Antonio prepares to begin reopening services through phased, deliberate measures, personnel continue to follow the guidelines, such as physical distancing and capacity limits, established by local and state leaders, as well as the Department of Defense and Centers for Disease Control, in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 within the community... MORE

DOD medical officials outline COVID-19 testing approach
July 31, 2020 — Though the rate of confirmed positive COVID-19 tests among those in uniform is lower than that of the nation's civilian population, the most junior service members have a slightly higher rate than that of their civilian counterparts, the medical advisor to the Defense Department's coronavirus task force said... MORE

A soldier with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade receives a test for COVID-19 at a mobilization station at Fort Hood, Texas, July 9, 2020.

Air Force signs agreement for oral fluid coronavirus testing at Air Force installations
April 20, 2020 — The Department of the Air Force signed an agreement April 17 with Curative, Inc., to deploy and scale an oral fluid coronavirus test, which recently received an FDA emergency use authorization, across Air Force installations... MORE

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Rotator Graphic for af.mil. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)

Blood donors urged to continue giving lifesaving donations
April 3, 2020 — At Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, the Akeroyd Blood Center can be reached at 210-295-4655, while at JBSA-Lackland, the Armed Services Blood Bank Center-San Antonio can be contacted at 210-292-8145... MORE

Defense health officials detail COVID-19 aid effort
March 20, 2020 — Senior Department of Defense health officials detailed what the department is doing to support the whole-of-government assault on the coronavirus pandemic... MORE

DOD vows to help Exceptional Family Member Program
February 11, 2020 — The Department of Defense is working to improve the Exceptional Family Member Program with several initiatives, a DOD official said at a House Armed Services Committee hearing Feb. 7... MORE

The Defense Department is working to improve the Exceptional Family Member Program with several initiatives, a Defense Department official said at a House Armed Services Committee hearing. (Photo Credit: Air Force Airman 1st Class Lillian Miller)

Coronavirus: What providers, patients should know
January 28, 2020 — With news of the contagious and potentially deadly illness known as novel coronavirus grabbing headlines worldwide, military health officials say that an informed, common sense approach minimizes the chances of getting sick... MORE

A dental assistant with the 319th Medical Group, demonstrates proper sanitary procedure by putting on a face mask at the medical treatment facility at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota.

Surgeon general reaffirms promise of quality care during DHA transfer
December 9, 2019 — The military's top health officials testified before Congress Dec. 5 on the ongoing transfer of healthcare systems to the Defense Health Agency... MORE

Col. Adrienne Ari, an optometrist at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, performs an eye examination Sept. 19, 2019. In October 2018, the Army, Navy and Air Force started the process to transfer the administration and management of their military medical treatment facilities to DHA. Phase II of that transition was completed this fall with roughly half of the MTFs in the continental U.S. now under the DHA. All other hospitals and clinics, including those overseas, will follow suit by 2021.

Air Force transitions all U.S. military treatment facilities to DHA administration and management
October 30, 2019 — This October, U.S.-based Air Force military treatment facilities transferred administration and management to the Defense Health Agency. Congress directed this transfer in the fiscal year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act... MORE

This October, U.S.-based Air Force military treatment facilities transferred administration and management to the Defense Health Agency. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

Defense Health Agency changes leadership
September 5, 2019 — Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Place became the third director of the Defense Health Agency Sept. 4 in a ceremony at Defense Health Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. He succeeds Navy Vice Adm. Raquel Bono, who is retiring after 36 years of service and has been the DHA director since 2015. ... MORE

Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Place, the new director of the Defense Health Agency, previously served in DHA as director of the National Capital Region Medical Directorate, the transitional Intermediate Management Organization, and the interim assistant director for health care administration.

Military health care consolidation moves to next phase
August 29, 2019 — The Defense Health Agency will take the next step this fall in evolving health care across the Military Health System, which oversees the care and well-being of some 9.5 million people, including service members, families and retirees... MORE

A health care provider meets with a patient at William Beaumont Army Medical Center on Fort Bliss, Texas, March 17, 2017.